Former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh of Indiana, considered
the "father" of Title IX, the landmark federal
legislation created more than 30 years ago that
greatly expanded educational and athletics
opportunities for girls and women, was honored during
half-time of the women's basketball game between
UConn and Rutgers on Martin Luther King Day.

Former U.S. Senator
Birch Bayh

"Thanks to Title IX, women have taken their rightful
place in American education - as students, teachers,
administrators, and athletes," said U.S. Sen.
Christopher R. Dodd, in joining University President
Philip Austin to present the award. "Sen. Bayh's
leadership as original author of this legislation has
directly impacted the millions of young women whose
lives have been touched and bettered through equality
in education, collegiate athletics, and opportunities
for success in virtually every aspect of American
life."

Although UConn began admitting women in 1893, many
publicly funded universities did not admit women, and
many women who did enter universities were
discouraged from studying math, science, law, or
medicine, before Title IX became law in 1972, Dodd
said. Perhaps the most profound change came in the
area of athletics, however; and participation by
women in virtually every sport has boomed since
passage of the act.

"Title IX represented a major advance not just for
women, but for all Americans and for higher
education," said University President Philip E.
Austin. "I'm proud that UConn has a long and worthy
tradition in making a university education accessible
to women, and I'm especially proud of our efforts to
encourage women to pursue their aspirations in fields
in which they have been historically
underrepresented.

"And of course, the success of our women's sports
programs and what that means for all the people of
Connecticut speaks for itself," Austin added.

Sen. Bayh also played a leadership role in many other
areas and in framing two Constitutional amendments:
the 26th Amendment, which lowered the legal voting
age to 18, and the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed
Constitutional amendment guaranteeing equal rights to
women, which has been ratified by 35 states,
including Connecticut.

Bayh, who also served in the Indiana House of
Representatives, represented Indiana in the U.S.
Senate from 1963 to 1981.